# White-winged Dove (*Zenaida asiatica*) The White-winged Dove is a beautiful bird with soft gray feathers and striking white wing patches. They are often seen in gardens and parks, making gentle cooing sounds that are very soothing. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 37 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Desert ![White-winged Dove](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/White-winged_dove.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White-winged_dove.jpg) ## Appearance The White-winged Dove is a medium-sized, plump dove, distinct for the bright white patch on the edge of each wing, clearly visible in flight or at rest. It also has a striking blue eye-ring and a small black line beneath the eye. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Columbiformes - **Family:** Columbidae - **Genus:** Zenaida ## Interesting facts - Chili peppers don't bother them; doves lack the receptors for capsaicin! - They can travel over 50 miles in a single day to find water! - They often build flimsy nests, so eggs can sometimes be seen through the bottom! - White-winged Doves are one of the few birds that drink by sucking up water like a straw! ## Special abilities - **Desert Drinker:** White-winged Doves can drink slightly saline water that helps them survive in arid desert environments. - **Cactus Connoisseur:** White-winged Doves can safely eat spiny cactus fruits and seeds because they have tough beaks and digestive systems. - **Wing Whistle:** White-winged Doves have specialized wing feathers that create a unique whistling sound when they fly fast. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 29-31 cm - **Wingspan:** 48-53 cm - **Weight:** 0.12-0.17 kg - **Lifespan:** 7-10 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 14 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding These doves mainly eat seeds and fruits from plants, including some thorny desert cacti! - **Primary Foods:** Saguaro cactus fruit, Prickly pear fruit, Sunflower seeds, Grain seeds, Berries, Small insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Saguaro cactus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saguaro-cactus) (*Carnegiea gigantea*) — Consumes the nutritious fruit and seeds, aiding seed dispersal. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator of adult doves and nestlings. - **Eats:** Engelmann prickly pear (*Opuntia engelmannii*) — Feeds on the juicy pads and fruits, especially in arid areas. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Preys on doves, particularly near water sources. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and do not try to touch or chase them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-winged Dove? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is White-winged Dove? 29-31 cm ### What is White-winged Dove's wingspan? 48-53 cm ### How much does White-winged Dove weigh? 0.12-0.17 kg ### How long does White-winged Dove live? 7-10 years ### How fast can White-winged Dove move? 70 km/h ### What does White-winged Dove eat? These doves mainly eat seeds and fruits from plants, including some thorny desert cacti! ### Where is White-winged Dove usually found? Urban areas, Desert ## Where to spot - [Barrio De Analco Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrio-de-analco-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Colorado National Monument Visitor Center Complex](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colorado-national-monument-visitor-center-complex) — Colorado, US · National Park - [Congress Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/congress-avenue-historic-district) — Texas, US · Historic District - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Mesa Grande](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesa-grande) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Mesilla Plaza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mesilla-plaza) — New Mexico, US · Park [View all places to see White-winged Dove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-winged-dove) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [White-winged Dove: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-winged-dove)